Macaroni and Cheese

Let me be perfectly clear right up front: this may not be the Mac and Cheese you were expecting.

I’ve been making this Macaroni and Cheese for a long time. It has many similarities to the Macaroni and Cheese that my mom made for us growing up, but I’ve long since lost track of any differences. It’s an old-fashioned Southern custard-style mac and cheese, meaning it’s thickened with eggs and milk and baked.

When my girls were little I especially liked that this recipe packed a lot of nutrition into a very kid-friendly dish. They loved it and requested it regularly. Occasionally we’d have frozen Stouffer’s mac and cheese, and they enjoyed that, too. But homemade Macaroni and Cheese was–and still is–a different dish altogether. Nearly everyone of my kids’ friends had this Macaroni and Cheese at one time or another, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve given this recipe out to other moms. (Sometimes I’ve even given the recipe to those kids who have since become adults.)

I think a lot of people regard Macaroni and Cheese as barely a step up from junk food. That’s not entirely fair. Homemade Macaroni and Cheese can be very nutritious with the right ingredients. Milk, whole eggs, real cheddar cheese, and cottage cheese deliver plenty of protein and a host of vitamins and minerals. Cottage cheese in particular is high in protein, in fact it has more protein than any other cheese.

I should tell you that Princess Persnickety has exactly zero use for cottage cheese generally, but is perfectly fine with it in Macaroni and Cheese. People who avoid cottage cheese are typically objecting to the texture rather than the flavor, which is mild and cheesy. The cottage cheese in this Macaroni and Cheese melts somewhat during baking, but you’ll be able to see some of the curds in the finished product. If that’s a problem for your family, just whiz the cottage cheese in the blender until it’s smooth before adding it to everything else. A stick blender works, too.

I’ve seen Macaroni and Cheese recipes that include things like spinach or kale, and if you can get away with that, more power to you. My children would’ve called the police if I’d put spinach in the mac and cheese. The only weird thing I’ve ever done to it is to toss some wheat germ into the breadcrumb topping. Nobody noticed.

Worried about all that dairy fat? Don’t be. Studies have shown that full fat dairy boosts your body’s ability to build muscle, promotes and maintains healthy bones and teeth, and doesn’t contribute to obesity or cardiovascular disease. In fact, full fat dairy may actually help prevent cardiovascular problems and diabetes.

Bon appetit, Science!